will I be punished?

Question

what happens when a person leaves one religon for another?my family is deeply religous and i dont want to mention which religion, but I dont belive in the rules and ways of worship.of coarse i belive in god but I know i would belive in Him more if I chose a religion I was comfortable with. what im trying to say in my current religion it is said whoever leaves the religion will be punished. what will happen to me?

Answer 1

If you are turning your back on your former religion, what do you care what the penalty for apostasy (what you're doing) is?

As to your predicament, you'll no doubt hear a lot of advice on this site encouraging you to "be true to yourself" and go ahead with your conversion to a new faith. I say to you, be still and listen for God.

Before you take that dramatic step, look intently for a spark of the divine in your current faith. Clearly your present religion has brought you to a relationship with God. How did that come about? Do the rituals and the precepts of your faith give you a sense that you are connected with something larger than yourself, more encompassing than the mere present? Do you get a sense of a communion with past, present, and future when you practice your faith? If so, then you are a part of something special and it might not be best for you to break with that. I encourage you to tend that divine spark and fan it into a more brighly glowing ember of faith.

And if there is something about your faith which you do not like or with which you disagree, the answer might not be to leave and find another that better reflects your convictions - otherwise I would attend the Holy Church of Jimbob. Chances are, there are others like you in your very congregation who are longing to work for the same changes you want to see in your faith and are simply waiting for someone to use them.

Most of today's religious traditions have a long history of people who have been passionate and who have worked (and fought) very hard to make them what they are today. We ought not cast aside that history and that effort carelessly. God bless you in your decision.

Answer 2

Read carefully what your religious text says about leaving the religion. All texts work at many levels and each level conveys deeper and sometimes different meanings depending on where a person is in their own spiritual journey.

Discuss your feelings of discomfort with your family's religion's cleric whatever type that is (priest/rabbi/preacher/elder/etc.) and be sure it is someone you know and can trust.
People in the clerical profession deal with these issues frequently and many times they can help you deal with the feelings you have about the rites and rituals of your family's religion.
By dealing with your problem in this way, you may be able to find a way to know and move closer to God while staying within the bounds of your family's religion. If you cannot reconcile yourself with the religion, the cleric should be able to clarify if there is punishment and what it is. Your family would likely be happy that you chose to deal with your problem in this way. At least your family will know that you have seriously tried to find your way within the religion.

If your family is deep in the rites and rituals of their religious faith, then the obvious and immediate punishment that would occur from leaving the religion would be a type of spiritual separation from your family if not just disappointment which is true regardless of the specific religion involved.

So what will happen to you if you change religion?
Likely to be a rift with your family.
Could be a more fullfilling and complete relationship with God.
Could be both.
Could be neither.

Answer 3

You will be punished if you choose a religion that does not teach and practice the truth as relayed by God.
Choosing a religion based on pleasing yourself is perhaps missing the point of religion all together. Every religion at some level is in existence to worship their "god" so as to please him.
The point that is so often missed is that it really should be up to God to set forth the requirements of worship that pleases him.
Many religions today are comporting themselves like businesses.
And the bottom line is to attract 'paying' customers. So the tendency is to weed out old Bible truths that they now consider irrelevant or even offensive according to the new "political correctness".
The person whose goal is for self gratification will find an abundance of churches/religions with low expectations and requirements to accommodate them.
But if you are looking for a church to build a friendship with God, you need to find the faith that does not water down or downplay
the seriousness with which the requirements for God's friendship, and hence everlasting life, are layed out in the scriptures.

Answer 4

Religions were derived to help people feel better about there limited lives (and in some cases to control them). Your beliefs are nothing more than beliefs. There are no right or wrong ones. Therefore the only punishment you can face is whatever you self impose or let other people impose on you. God doesn't care one way or another..

Answer 5

No
God is love
Religion is a man made thing and you wont be punished
www.ourpathway.com

Answer 6

I hope you will be able to read this....

No... I don't believe you will be punished but there is a way to ask God to protect you from their curse...... A church that curses is not a true church of Jesus Christ. Tell me, did Christ come to save or to curse?

I feel the exact same way. Rules and regulations of a church are man made. You are to dress a certain way and you are to attend church or else. Which is why I choose to be nondenomination, that way I stay free of all the rules and regulations of any religion... but I do worship Jehovah and his son Jesus Christ. Christ never put any rules on mankind except the two greatest commandments of Love... and that's all the rules we need.

If you decide to leave that church, continue worshiping God Jehovah and his son our Lord Jesus Christ.... and if you do continue, you have not left God, but you left that church.

That church is controlling you through fear. According to 1John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Matt. 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27 all basically says the same thing:
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

The church are supposed to teach their members how to Love God not fear him, according to Jesus Christ. I know this because
.... well anyway.... You can leave a church but never leave God.

May God bless you which ever way you choose. May his wisdom, knowledge and understanding always be your guidance.

I invite you to write to me through my email ... no points necessary.

Answer 7

The truth exists. But it does not exist in your mind because you are incapable of finding it. If you honestly don't know what it is, then God, who is loving and merciful, will have mercy on you and will not judge you based on what you know, but rather the deeds and intentions that come from your heart. If you want to do good, be good, and are good, then God will do good for you. Remember this phrase,

"The skilled are those who know how to do something good. The wise are those who know what good things to do. And the virtuous are those who do the good things. "

Answer 8

Any religion that threatens to "punish you" if you leave is one I, personally, would leave real fast. I don't know what religion you're into and how old you are. Obey your parents. But, when you're old enough (if you're not already), leave. Threatened? Get the law after them.

Answer 9

Jehovah's Witnesses perhaps???

Don't be fooled... religion is not what is important... your relationship with God is. Stay true to God and follow Him. Your PERSONAL relationship with God is what should matter to you not what religion you are a part of.

Religion is man made and doesn't really matter.

Answer 10

Nothing...Do you see Do This Or Else in your religion??? They hop all over our fears. ...The Religion should not be threatening like some.. The message is Love, not punishment....